Remote control residential circuit breaker

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination a first set of contacts comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts, trip structure for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough, a second set of contacts comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts, an actuator energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts, and feedback means responsive to energization of said actuator to provide status indication of the condition of said switching relay contacts,

• wherein said actuator comprises a movable actuating member having a first position closing said switching relay contacts and a second position opening said switching relay contacts, and wherein said feedback means response to movement of said movable actuating member,
• and comprising a third set of contacts comprising auxiliary feedback contacts actuated by said movable actuating member between open and closed conditions to provide status indication of the condition of said switching relay contacts,
• and comprising a fourth set of contacts comprising actuator energization control contacts actuated by said movable actuating member between open and closed conditions,
• wherein:
• said actuator comprises a solenoid, and said movable actuating member comprises a movable plunger actuated by said solenoid to move along an axial travel path between said first and second positions;
• said third set of contacts comprises first and second axially spaced contacts, and a third contact axially movable between said first and second contacts and mounted on a movable contact arm lying in the path of movement of and engaged by said plunger during axial movement thereof, such that said third contact of said third set engages said first contact of said third set when said plunger is in said first position, and said third contact of said third set engages said second contact of said third set when said plunger is in said second position, wherein closure of said first and third contacts of said third set indicates said closed condition of said switching relay contacts, and closure of said second and third contacts of said third set indicates said open condition of said switching relay contacts;
• said fourth set of contacts comprises first and second axially spaced contacts, said second contact of said fourth set being axially movable between a first position engaging said first contact of said fourth set and a second position separated from said fourth contact of said fourth set, said second contact of said fourth set being mounted on a movable contact arm lying in the path of movement of and engaged by said plunger during axial movement thereof, such that said second contact of said fourth set engages said first contact of said fourth set when said plunger is in said first position, and said second contact of said fourth set is separated by said first contact of said fourth set when said plunger is in said second position.

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination in a common case, a first set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts, trip structure in said case for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough, a second set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts, said switching relay contacts comprising a stationary contact, and a movable contact mounted on a movable contact arm having a first point pivotally mounted in said case for pivotal movement of said movable contact arm about said first point, an actuator in said case energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts and comprising an axially movable plunger engaging said movable contact arm at a second point and having a first position closing said switching relay contacts and a second position opening said switching relay contacts, a biasing spring bearing between said case and said movable contact arm at a third point and biasing said movable contact arm to bias said switching relay contacts to said closed condition, said movable contact of said switching relay contacts being mounted to said movable contact arm at a fourth point.

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination:

• a narrow case of width less than or equal to about one inch;
• a first set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts;
• trip structure in said case for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough;
• a second set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts;
• and
• an actuator in said case energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts.

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination:

• a narrow case of width less than or equal to about one inch;
• a first set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts;
• trip structure in said case for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough;
• a second set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts;
• and
• an actuator in said case energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts,
• wherein said actuator comprises a movable actuating member having a first position closing said switching relay contacts and a second position opening said switching relay contacts, and comprising a feedback circuit responsive to movement of said movable actuating member to provide status indication of the position of said movable actuating member.

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination:

• a narrow case of width less than or equal to about one inch;
• a first set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts;
• trip structure in said case for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough;
• a second set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts;
• and
• an actuator in said case energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts,
• wherein said actuator comprises a movable actuating member having a first position closing said switching relay contacts, and a second position opening said switching relay contacts, and comprising a third set of contacts in said case comprising first and second spaced contacts and a third contact movable between said first and second contacts and mounted on a movable contact arm lying in the path of movement of and engaged by said actuating member during movement between said first and second positions, such that said third contact of said third set engages said first contact of said third set when said actuating member is in said first position, and said third contact of said third set engages said second contact of said third set when said actuating member is in said second position, wherein closure of said first and third contacts of said third set indicates said closed condition of said switching relay contacts, and closure of said second and third contacts of said third set indicates said open condition of said switching relay contacts.

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination:

• a narrow case of width less than or equal to about one inch;
• a first set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts;
• trip structure in said case for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough;
• a second set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts;
• and
• an actuator in said case energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts,
• wherein said actuator comprises a movable actuating member having a first position closing said switching relay contacts, and a second position opening said switching relay contacts, and comprising:
• a third set of contacts in said case comprising auxiliary feedback contacts actuated by said movable actuating member between open and closed conditions to provide status indication of the condition of said switching relay contacts;
• and
• a fourth set of contacts in said case comprising actuator energization control contacts actuated by said movable actuating member between open and closed conditions.

A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker providing overload current protection and load management, comprising in combination:

• a narrow case of width less than or equal to about one inch;
• a first set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of separable overload breaker contacts;
• trip structure in said case for causing separation of said overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough;
• a second set of contacts in said case comprising a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with said overload breaker contacts;
• and
• an actuator in said case energizable to mechanically actuate said switching relay contacts,
• wherein:
• said narrow case of width less than or equal to about one inch has first and second compartments;
• said overload breaker contacts and said trip structure are in said first compartment;
• said switching relay contacts and said actuator are in said second compartment;
• said overload breaker contacts comprise a stationary contact, and a movable contact on a movable contact arm;
• said trip structure comprises a latch for holding said movable breaker contact against said stationary breaker contact and being trippable to move said movable contact arm to separate said overload breaker contacts, and a bimetal member responsive to current flow therethrough inducing heating thereof to deflect said bimetal member to trip said latch;
• said switching relay contacts comprise a stationary contact, and a movable contact on a movable contact arm;
• said bimetal member has a first end connected by a first flexible pigtail conductor to said movable contact arm of said overload breaker contacts, and said bimetal member has a second end connected by a second flexible pigtail conductor to said movable contact arm of said switching relay contacts;
• said case includes a dividing wall separating said first and second compartments and having a passage therethrough;
• said second flexible pigtail conductor extends from said second end of said bimetal member through said passage and then along said dividing wall to said movable contact arm of said switching relay contacts;
• said movable contact arm of said switching relay contacts has an end pivotally mounted in said second compartment;
• said second flexible pigtail conductor is connected to said movable contact arm of said switching relay contacts adjacent said pivotally mounted end;
• said dividing wall has a recessed bearing surface receiving and pivotally mounting said end of said movable contact arm of said switching relay contacts;
• said actuator comprises a solenoid in said second compartment having an axially movable plunger;
• and
• said second flexible pigtail conductor in said second compartment is disposed between said dividing wall and said solenoid and extends generally axially from said passage to said movable contact arm of said switching relay contacts.